Journey to IRONMAN: Boulder IRONMAN 70.3

I did it!  I finished my first IRONMAN distance race.  What an accomplishment and now more than ever I am driven to go the 140.6 distance.  I can do it....I know I can.

But the 70.3 was no easy feat.  It took an amount of physical and mental will that I have never given at an endurance event.  It was big.  

I flew into CO last Wednesday evening and settled into the Nichols place for a few days of prep before the big day.  Colorado has been bombarded with rain lately and it rained every day that I was there.  Goodness it was wet.

There has been so much run off and on Thursday morning the Boulder Reservoir was actually shut down due to heightened bacteria levels in the water.  I could not believe the possibility that the swimming portion of my 70.3 might actually have to be cancelled and I went to bed Thursday night nauseous, anxious and nervous. Friday was cold wet and rainy.  My spirits plummeted considering I still was a nervous wreck hoping that they would open the reservoir and cold from the deluging rain.  At 10AM I got the word that the reservoir was open!  Hallelujah! Now my nerves changed into something real......this big thing was happening!

We got to Boulder Friday evening and I checked in.  Wow is there a lot of logistics to completing an IRONMAN distance race.  There are stickers and armbands, swim caps and bibs.  Everything has to be labeled and clear.  Dropping my bike off was such a fun experience!  There is just something so cool about checking in and being amongst every type of competitor.  The world was represented amongst the masses and it was fun to see how many countries I could pick out!

My Mom and Dad, good friend Steve and all of the Nichols were my fans and I was so encouraged when I saw all of their smiling faces right before I started!  I went into the water at 7:57 and the gun went off at 7:59.  It was so wonderful to be off.  I just love open water swimming.  I really do and the 1.2 miles seemed so easy.  I flew out of the water 43 minutes after I started and was raring to get on the bike!

The bike started off awesome, but at about mile 15 I started having some stomach cramps.  I drank and continued in my routine, but it had me nervous.   Stomach cramps could really derail my run.  The cycling course was beautiful and I had so much fun out in the farmlands of Boulder.  I had absolutely no problems and came in at a smooth 3:18.  I was the most worried about the bike and it was my favorite.  Such a fun ride!

Unfortunately those stomach cramps turned into full fledged debilitating pain in my gut and I was completely unable to run for the first 3.5 miles of the run.  When I got off the bike I knew something wasn't right and within 50 steps had the sinking feeling that my run was going to suffer in a big way.

I truly found the power within because I dealt with cramps followed with 4 miles of visiting every porta potty.  I wasn't able to consistently run until I hit mile 11.  I was discouraged that I had done something in my nutrition to mess up my run, but was ABSOLUTELY determined to finish and I did!

I came across that finish line right at 7 hours from when I started.  It was so much fun to run down the chute to the end and an even better feeling to realize that I had done it, stomach cramps and all!

I did it!  And now have my sights truly set on IRONMAN.  The best party of this race was the lessons that I learned.  They are invaluable, like:

• You will be nervous......and those nerves will impact everything about your nutrition and stomach
• Fueling pre race should really be done the days leading up to the event.  One should not attempt to consume 700 calories on a nervous stomach 3 hours before the big event.
• Finishing an IRONMAN distance is truly about the journey.......not the destination.

• And lastly, even though you put 50 SPF on in the morning, you should really take the extra 2 minutes in transition to reapply.  

I did it and now I am one step closer to my dream of being an IRONMAN!

Bee, You are 2!

Dear Evie,

Happy Birthday Bee!  Oh I just can't believe that you are 2 already.  It happened so fast, goodness!  It really does seem like just a few weeks ago we were celebrating you turning 1 and now its a year later and you are a busy 2 year old.  And the cutest little Bee that ever there was too!  

You are such a delight little girl.  You are so strong and want so desperately to do everything all by yourself.  All day I hear "I do it" and "Evie do!"  You are brave and strong and so sure of yourself.  You want to try everything and be as big as your big sister.  You are so smart and confident.  It even gets you into trouble many times during the weeks.  You are determined, there are no two ways around it.  

You know kiddo, my favorite part about you right now is your tender heart.  Yes you are mighty and will stand up for yourself and can hit and fling punches with the best of them, but when someone is in pain, you are unbelievably tender.  You recognize hurt and you seek to soothe it.  That is a powerful trait my dear and one I pray will follow you into adulthood.

You love shoes and all things girly.  While Lily loves to wear my dresses for dress up, you love to wear hers.  You girls look so precious and when Lily puts on my white dress and you follow her around in your purple one, I have this brief glimpse into the future.  

You are happy and willing to do just about anything most of the time.  Again, you are brave.  You love to fly with Daddy, I mean,  really love it and you love to swim in the pool.  You don't want floats or inner tubes.....you want to swim!

Since moving out to Arizona, I hear almost everyday about this little girl right here.  Miss Katie is one of your favorites and more importantly, "Katie's pool," is what makes you super happy.  You are such a good friend Evie and love to be with people.  The best part is that people really love you too!

You started swimming lessons this month and when you aren't cold, you just love being in the water.  You are a bit of a booger because you do not want to do anything the instructor tells you to do and instead want to "go simming!" in your own way.  The instructor has us practice your floating by singing the "pancake song" and you scream your way through most of it.  I keep telling you that one day your going to love to float, and you don't believe me.

You love to go and do.  The Childrens Museum is such a delight for you.  You love to be barefoot and are slowly learning that it is just too hot to do it out here.  You love to copy your sister and desperately want to do all that she does.  You don't let much stop you Evie and I love that about you.

Baby Girl, happy birthday.  I am sitting here in Colorado waiting to do my IRONMAN 70.3 and thinking of you.  Thanks for being my support crew.  Mommy feels strong knowing I have you and your sissy at home rooting for me.  You are such a blessing Evie and even though I will miss parts of your babyhood, I LOVE how you are growing up and look forward to the years ahead of us.  You are going places little Bee.  

My prayer for you this year is that you will continue to grow in grace, strength and beauty and that you will let Jesus be the light in your life.  May your heart of compassion grow only greater and may you always see the pain in the world and seek to soothe it.  I pray that you will continue to be happy and know joy.  I pray that you will continue to be strong and learn how to obey even when you don't want to.  I pray that you will be safe and be bold.  I pray that you will try new things and not be afraid.  You are so beautiful Bee and so perfectly Evie.

All My Love

Mom

Journey to IRONMAN: 1 Week: The Sacrifice

Holy Bananas!  My IRONMAN 70.3 is in 5 days!  Not even a whole week.  Next Saturday morning is the day that I have been training for since last October.........It's actually here.

And I am so thankful.

IRONMAN demands so much.  It really does.  Not only does it demand a constant mental pursuit towards it, but daily training runs and rides and swims.  It demands strength building and stretching.  It demands a near obsession with fueling and nutrition while requiring sleep, sleep and sleep.  Seriously I am tired all the time.  Like ALL THE TIME.  The amount of hungry and tired I have been over the past 2 months has at times been annoying.  It seems that every minute of life is either defined by being in motion, hungry or tired.

That's where the sacrifice starts.  My babies.....my husband......myself.  These things have all had to sacrifice.  We knew it and talked about it before beginning this pursuit, but the months of heavy training reveal the weight of sacrifice something of this magnitude requires.  At times I have shed tears wondering if my distance and exhaustion during this time will traumatize my kids.  I'm not always there fully.  I can't give it all everywhere, after all there is only so much of me.  I wonder if I will have regrets.  Will my kids remember the victory?  Will my husband look on me with pride?  or will the littles only remember the countless times Mom left the house or slept instead of read books to them. Will my husband harbor resentment for me and that other MAN in my life.  I don't believe so, but to those out there watching my journey, don't for a second believe that I make sacrifices daily, weekly and monthly to do it.

This 70.3 is also a big sacrifice because I am going to be in Colorado on my Little Evie Bee's 2nd Birthday.  She's turning 2 and I won't be here.  I will be out, pursuing a dream.......my dream.  I am grateful because Grandma Jill and Aunt Sue will be here, but the fact remains....I am making this sacrifice to do something that is important to me.

Sweet Evie,

I know that you are too little to care at all that Mom won't be here for your 2nd birthday, but know that I do.  I will think about you with every moment that I am away from you.  I have chosen to pursue IRONMAN understanding that at times it will take me away from you and your sister.  I do it though because finding what makes you happy and pursuing your dreams is always worth it.  Always.  We will celebrate big when I get home Bee.  Mom the Half IRONMAN and Bee the 2 Year Old!

Love,
Mom

Journey to IRONMAN: 2 Weeks: The Run

I realize that the moment you read this blog there is going to be a small part of you that goes, "really, Bethany, you are going to spend an entire blog talking about the run? You do that all the time."  It's true.  Out of all the events I will do in 2 weeks, the run is literally barely on my radar for worry.  I run....its what I do.  I ran miles and miles and MILES on newborn-baby-Mom amounts of sleep.  I can run 13 miles without even thinking.  Even tired I have complete confidence in my ability to run 13.1 miles.  Again.....its what I do.

So no I'm not going to spend a lot of time on it this week and instead spend the bulk of my blog talking about my 4500 meter open water swim...........but more on that in a sec!

In 2 weeks after I swim for 45 minutes and then pedal Lady Trek for 56 miles, I will hop off and begin my final leg to 70.3 glory.  The run at Boulder is challenging for a few reasons.  1. It is an out and back course that you have to do 2 times and 2.  It is on changing surfaces.  Normally these things wouldn't be too big of a deal, but you literally have to run past the finish and go out 7 more miles.  It's a little bit of a mind punch.  Most of the run is done on crushed trail so it should be fairly gentle on the legs.  As a barefoot runner though, I am always mindful of the road surface and pray that it truly is REALLY crushed gravel and not rocks.

Every time I look at these maps I smile.  Man, once I get here.....I have got it!  All I have to do is run to the finish line!  It's hard to believe it is 12 days away.  Bring it.....I'm ready.

So back to my 4500 meters..... 

Last Wednesday I had ZERO intention of swimming 4500 meters anywhere, let alone in open water.   But alas, I am also an endurance athlete and when I got on my Tri Club website and saw an AZ Open Water event I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to race.  I sit here laughing because I could have swam in the 1500 meter event or I could have even swam  in the 3000 meter event.  Both are respectable, both would have been challenging.  No, not Bethany....at the encouragement of my husband I just had to go all in with the 4500 meter distance.  In the words of the late and great Curtis Powelson, "Go BIG....or Go Home!"  To better understand the scope, 4500 meters is 3 miles.........in open water.

Since committing to IRONMAN and diving into (yes pun intended) swimming, even with all of the hours spend in a pool I have never swam more than 2 miles.  I have done that once and it was in a pool.  So what would convince me to sign up for such a long event in open lake water?  I just knew I could.

We took the whole family out to the lake last Saturday morning.  It was perfect temperature and the water was a cool 76 degrees.  I warmed up in my wetsuit and then decided it was just going to be too warm for the amount of time and effort I would be giving.

The course was big and remember,  you cannot see a thing in that water.  Its murky and green.  Add to that occasional seaweed and a rogue shadow from a tree and you have yourself a panic attack waiting to happen.  It's hard out there in the open water.  You can't stand up or go to the edge when you need a break or have a cramp.  You can't see where you are under water so you are constantly sighting and trying to find the air filled bouys marking the course.  It's challenging.

The event was small and there were only about 30 people racing the 4500.  What I didn't know was that the people that raced were college and elite type swimmers trying to set time goals for some championship open water series they were a part of.  So when I literally got left by the entire group in the first 500 yards I knew I was out of my league. To complete the course we had to swim 4 laps around the big course followed by one 1/2 lap to finish.  In water......distance is far.  Really far.  

As I watched swimmer after swimmer come up behind me and pass me with little effort I started doing the math and realizing that there was a good chance that my last 1500 or so meters was going to literally be by myself with the occasional safety boat to keep me company.  By my second lap I had a moment of panic.  I don't mind open water when I am with a group.  I REALLY mind open water when I feel alone in it.  Oh the heebies and jeebies are crawling up my spine.  As I started to panic amidst my stroke I told myself "Bethany, that problem is 40 minute from now Bethany's problem.  Just keep swimming in the moment. Stroke, stroke, stroke, breathe."  I started to pray...... "Okay Lord, I can do this....I know I can, but if you could please make someone be slower than me I would be forever grateful!"

The final lap started and the swimmers that had busied the water had all completed their events and were standing on shore.  I wasn't tempted to cut my race short, but I did have that fear.  Low and behold an older gentleman comes up behind me doing the Butterfly (yes, he BUTTERFLIED the entire 4500).  Turns out we had been swimming the exact pace just about 30 feet apart from each other the whole time.  He caught up and I just hung with him.  Together we took on the lonely, dark side of the course, turned the corner and headed for home.  Thank you Jesus.  I was renewed and poured the coal to my final 500 overtaking my partner and the 1 guy in front of me.  I came in 3rd from the last at a finish time of 1:52.

It was big, but SO MUCH FUN.  I loved it.  I loved the challenge and I love that my girls were there to see me do it.  I really love that I came in next to last showing them that sometimes strength isn't about winning or even being one of the fastest.  Instead, its about being strong in mind and knowing what you are capable of.  It's about overcoming the fear that says you can't and embracing the guts that tells you you can.